Our trip from Norman, OK to the Aux Arc COE just south of Ozark, AR covered 226 miles, almost all of it on I-40, taking a little over four hours. The road has improved since our last time over it but still has many, many sections that can use a good deal of improvement. The scenery was much the same as last few trips though it was a little more wooded and less farming.
As mentioned, we are staying at the Aux Arc COE on the Arkansas River. We have a large 30 amp back-in with water and a dump on the way out. Verizon is strong but we were...

We left Branson on a warm, sunny day headed south and crossed into Arkansas and the heart of the Ozarks. Lots of oak trees in various shades of brown and rust but not much other other color. It was a nice drive through the mountains (really more like big hills) and we decided to find a Corps of Engineers park so Ed could do some fishing. We located one just east of Fort Smith, Arkansas right on the Arkansas River. Fortunately we arrived on a Sunday afternoon and found a site as it had been a busy weekend there and the host told us there...

Sunday afternoon September 12th we drove about 270 miles and a few hours to Aux Arc State Park in Ozark, Arkansas where we stayed for three nights. This park is adjacent to the Arkansas River and has dam with a hydroelectric generating facility within the park.

We had a very relaxing day today. Sometimes it's nice to just get back to nature. We have been watching the birds in the lake and just enjoying doing nothing.
We did manage a ride to the little town of Ozark. It has been raining most of the day, so the pictures reflect all the clouds. We are actually enjoying the rain. After being in so many dry areas and not seeing rain for months, we are loving it.
We also got our 200th cache today. It was a very nice one with a beautiful trail and a beautiful view of the top of the dam. It was right...

After a 230 mile drive along Hwy 40 we have arrived at Aux Arc Park, in Ozark, Arkansas. This park & campground are run by the Army Corp of Engineers. The cost per night with Jerry's Golden Age Pass is only $9. That is with water and electric with 50 amps. Some of the sites even have sewer hook ups. What a deal!
We are parked facing Lake Ozark, The lake was formed by the dam crossing the Arkansas River. Jerry asked permission to drive in instead of backing in. This way we are facing the dam and lake right out our windshield. It doesn't get...

No music festival should be more than three days long. The promoters of Woodstock billed their event as “three days of peace and music.” At least at Woodstock they had a little rain!
Having that fourth day is just asking for trouble. The hippies run out of dope. The people who’ve been drinking for three solid days start to get terrible hangovers. The heat and dust really start to get on the nerves of even the extremely mellow folks – me included.
But today - despite the bad vibes beginning to creep in - the music continued to be...

I must admit – despite 30 years in the music business – I really wasn’t quite sure how I was going to pull off getting backstage to visit with the guys in the Nitty Gritty Dirty Band. I’ve known John McEuen (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) for years, and met the rest of the guys in the band during the infamous trip to Canada when they were opening for Willie Nelson (the trip that resulted in the aforementioned “I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again” incident).
But I remembered the old joke about the guy on the train who asked the ticket...

One of the slight drawbacks to being in the VIP camping section is that everything but the VIP hospitality tent and the Main Stage is quite a stroll from here, and the Main Stage doesn’t open until tomorrow. The showers are way over in the “Upgraded Camping” area. Since you have to have a special pass to get to the VIP section, the Upgraded Camping people can’t come over here, so we have to go over there to shower. And, since they haven’t opened the gate yet that leads directly to the Main Stage, those of us in the VIP section have to walk...

Well, talk about your opposite extremes…
It was a pretty short drive from Muskogee to the Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival, but nobody here looks like the folks back in Muskogee. In case you’re wondering whatever happened to all the hippies, I’ve found them.
Not wanting to stay in the section called “Primitive Camping,” I’d bought a VIP ticket to the festival, which meant having actual shade (sort of), access to showers (sort of), and better seating for the events on the Main Stage.
By the time I found a spot and set up my Tent...

After a short 220 mile drive along Hwy 40 we have arrived at our 'weekend home' - Aux Arc Park(they pronounce that Ozark here in Arkansas! ) This park & campground are run by the Army Corp of Engineers and it offers my favorite kind of 'camping' - lots of nature along with peace and quiet - no freeway noise here!!
Arkansas is a new state for Ken and there are several things to do in the area. The only problem is that I have a feeling it may be a little difficult to pry me away from my 'room with a view'!!

Tuesday, 9/11/07
Everybody contributed to a continental breakfast before we headed west toward the OKC rally. Stopped mid-afternoon at Aux Arc COE Campground for the night. Its claim to fame was the fact that it was the midway point.This is a very nice park with huge sites. We are right by the dam where we are able to watch the activity. Tomorrow the Lanes will be heading out on their own as Tony has a business meeting in Muskogee, but the rest of us will convoy on to the rally being held at the A AAA Adult RV Park just south of OKC